Envelope-fastener



{No Model.) I W. BARNARD.

I ENVELOPE PASTENER; No. 551,709. Patented Dec. 17, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM BARNARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551 ,709, datedDecember 17, 1895.

Application filed January 8, 1895. Serial No.'534,1'75. (N0 ode -l Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,WILLIAM BARNARD, a subject of the Queen of England,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEnvelope-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of envelopefor the mailing of catalogues, pamphlets, samples of merchandise, &c.,of such construction that the envelope may be readily opened and closedand its contents be examined by the postoffice officia-ls if necessary.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view ofsufficient of an envelope to illustrate my invention, the end flap ofthe envelope being opened. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the envelopeclosed and ready for mailing. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views ofmodifications of parts of the closing-clasp.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body portion of an ordinaryenvelope, having a flap or lappet a at one end. At the central point ofthe flap is secured a small disk b projecting slightly beyond the pointof the flap and having an integral stem or neck portion 1) secured tothe flap in any suitable manner as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 1,wherein the edges of the flap are twined over and pasted down over theedges of the base of the portion b or the neck may be provided withsuitable spurs to engage the flaps or be riveted thereto, if desired.

On the back of the envelope, immediately under the point of the flapwhen closed, is a thin strip of metal 0, the central portion of which issecured to the envelope by passing it through small slits formed in theback of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 1, or, as illustrated in Fig. 4,the central portion of the strip may have integral spurs c to engage inthe envelope or it may be secured by riveting if desired. The oppositeend portions 61 d of the strip are free, and as the strip is preferablyformed of sheet-brass or similar metal these ends may be bent overthepoint of the flap and when so bent will remain in position without anyauxiliary fastening device.

In closing the envelope the flap a with its disk I) is first foldeddown, and then the ends d. d of the strip 0 are twined up over the pointof the flap on opposite sides of the neck portion 1), the bending-lineof the points being nearly parallel to the edges of the flap, so thatthey will firmly bind upon said flap and hold it closed. The disk I)being at the point of the flap and slightly projecting beyond the pointwill be held in position by the bending of the points d, and it will beimpossible to open the envelope until the points are again bent back andopened. For further security the disk I) may then be turned back andbound upon the crossed ends of the strip G, or the disk I) may be in theform of an enlarged head, as shown at b in Fig. 5.

It is not absolutely necessary for the security of the fastening thatthe ends (Z d shall cross each other, as the strips may be made only ofsufficient length to bend over the edge of the flap, as will be readilyunderstood.

With an envelope of this kind the contents of the envelope may be veryreadily examined, while at the same time the danger of accidentalopening of the envelope is reduced to a minimum, as the ends of thestrip 0 can only be bent back by the employment of some little force.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In an envelope, the combination of the main body portion, the flap, adisk secured to and projecting slightly beyond the point of the flap,and metallic fingers secured to the body of the envelope and adapted tobe bent at crossing angles over the edge of the flap and oneach side ofthe point of the latter, substantially as specified.

2. In an envelope, the combination of the main body portion, the flap, ametallic disk 11 secured to and projecting slightly beyond the point ofthe fiap, a neck portion b on said disk, the metallic strip 0 secured atits center to the body of the envelope and having free end portions (1,cl, adapted to be bent over the edge of the fiap on either side of theneck portion 1) to confine the flap in position substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM BARNARD.

WVitnesses:

O. J. ANDERSON, B. '1. BETTS.

